| Leaders do not develop overnight. Sure, some are | | | | Phase 3: I Know What I Don't Know |
| born with more natural talent than others, but all | | | | In this phase, you will begin to learn from |
| leadership skills are learnable and all must be | | | | experienced leaders. Seek out leaders in your |
| practiced on a daily basis. John Maxwell, in his book | | | | community to learn from. Read books, listen to |
| entitled "The 21 laws of Irrefutable Leadership," | | | | tapes and attend seminars on leadership. As you |
| says that becoming a leader is a process, as | | | | begin to implement these principles into your |
| opposed to an event. For example, just because | | | | business, your employees or associates will |
| you are appointed to a high position, does not | | | | respond and you will start to develop leadership |
| make you a leader. Anyone can steer a ship, but | | | | characteristics. Remember, what you do on a |
| it takes a leader to set the course. Here are the | | | | daily basis will become who you are. |
| five phases (as outlined by Maxwell) you will need | | | | Phase 4: I Know And Grow, And It Starts To |
| to go through as you develop into a leader. | | | | Show |
| Phase 1: I Don't Know What I Don't Know | | | | Now you will begin to notice how your newly |
| This is the beginning phase when you must | | | | developed leadership skills affect your interactions |
| recognize that you have a lot of learning and | | | | with everyone you meet. You will see that |
| experiences ahead of you. This is where you | | | | leadership is the ability to influence others, and |
| must observe yourself and know that there are | | | | you have people following you. Though your |
| many things about you that need development. | | | | practice has been a daily practice, one day you |
| The person in this phase is pretty much clueless | | | | will wake up with quantum leaps of positive |
| and unless they move on to phase 2, they may | | | | change. In this phase, you will still be learning |
| never grow into a leader. | | | | intensely, but more and more people will recognize |
| Phase 2: I Know That I Need to Know | | | | and respect your character. |
| At this point, many people begin to realize that | | | | Phase 4: I Simply Go Because of What I Know |
| they need to learn to become a leader. For | | | | Maxwell says that in this phase you act with |
| instance, they may have been promoted in their | | | | instincts. All your moves will become automatic. |
| job, but no one is really following them. Or | | | | You have acted as a leader so much that these |
| perhaps you have started your own business | | | | leadership characteristics have become a habit. |
| where you will be leading people. Now you are | | | | You have followed the process. You have paid |
| awake and conscious. Now you can begin to seek | | | | the price. Now, you can help others who may be |
| out assistance and education to learn leadership | | | | in phase 1 to start their journey of discovery. |
| principles. | | | | |